Review of Ruby by Cynthia Bond

Nutshell: Ruby returns to the town that where all of her haunting secrets began. Ephram, her childhood friend can not get her out of his mind. This story is her journey through the past and finding freedom in the present while her long-ago friend does not give up on her and walks the path of healing for himself and with her.

Pro's: The words in this book are so descriptively beautiful, even during the most horrendous portions. The imagery is crystal clear, the emotion so raw that it takes your breath away.

Con's: At face value, this book could be seen as graphic and wrought with distasteful language. But it is so fitting considering the context of the story. I did have a hard time getting into the book with the back and forth between the present and the past, but once the reader figures it out, the book sweeps you away.

Recommendation: You have to be able to see past the face value of the book. This book makes you think, makes you feel uncomfortable, makes your heart race, makes you furious, and evokes different emotions throughout the pages. It is not an easy read in the sense of the abuse that takes place and it does weigh heavy on the heart.

Waterbrook Multnomah sent me this copy to review for them. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review of The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker

Nutshell: Carrington Hale is growing up in the year 2257 and is about to be chosen as a bride. She has been trained her whole life for this one moment. When that moment passes and she is not chosen, her whole life changes in a blink and she is plummeted to the lowest class in society as a Lint. Her journey in finding who she is ultimately chosen by leads her to many choices of listening to that still small voice. From having a second chance in being chosen again by one of the most elite in society, she is faced with what true love is in human form and in the spiritual form.

Pro's: I absolutely loved this book. The plot, the characters, the journey the main character is taken on, the style of writing and the emotions this book evokes is top notch. The history flashbacks helped immensely as did the list of characters in the front.

Con's: It was a bit hard to get in to, but once you have a grasp of who is who and what is going on, the story flies.

Recommendation: As her debut novel, Rachelle Dekker does a phenomenal job in creating a story that sucks you in and keeps you up until the wee hours of the morning just to finish the book. It's like a book I haven't read before. A little sci-fi, a little romance, a little mystery, a little suspense all rolled in to one. A definite for your bookshelf! Available June 3rd.

Q & A with the author:

1. One of the story’s most significant lines is, “Life is a journey of remembering and forgetting.” What do you mean by this?
It means exactly what you probably think. We have these flashes of clarity where we see so clearly who we are—and our connection to the Father—but then, in a single moment, something pulls our attention away and we forget who we are. This is the journey of life, remembering and forgetting. But I believe the more we remember, the more we set our gaze on the Father, the less often we forget. 

2. You based your main character, Carrington, off of your younger sister. In what ways is Carrington like her?
It’s more the beliefs that Carrington struggles with that remind me of my sister. The idea of worth, of not feeling like you’re enough, or questioning whether anyone would choose you. Carrington came about as I spent time with my sister and her college-age friends and saw that a large majority of them were searching for significance, searching for worth—none more than my sister at the time. 

3. How did you come up with the story for The Choosing?

This is a hard question because it has many answers. I wanted to write a theme-based novel about identity. I wanted to write a dystopian novel. I wanted to write in a world that was familiar, but in a setting where I could change the way the world worked. It actually is several ideas I’d been toying with pulled into one story. Once I landed on Carrington’s core revelation and story arc, I simply fell in love with her as a character and drew the rest of the story around her. That’s usually how it works for me. I come up with a character, good or bad, and create the story from there. 

Rachelle Dekker is the eldest daughter of author Ted Dekker. This is her debut novel and more information about her can be found at the following sites:

      Twitter: @RachelleDekker

      Facebook: facebook.com/RachelleDekkerAuthor

      Instagram: @rachelle_dekker

 Website: http://rachelledekker.com






Tyndale Publishers sent me a complimentary copy of this book to review for them. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Buried Secrets by Irene Hannon

Nutshell: A dead body unearthed. Two law enforcement officers caught up in a deadly case. A splash of romance thrown in. Suspense and mystery throughout. Book 1 of the Men of Valor Series is introduced with a great story! Irene Hannon does it again with another suspense book that keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens next.

Pro's: A great story line that keeps you glued to the pages of what is going to happen next.

Con's: A bit heavy on the romance side.

Recommendation: If you enjoy suspense novels, you will enjoy the first book in this new series!

Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. All opinions expressed are my own.